Chapter 10: To Tea with Thoughts and Discussion

We had finally arrived at Dudley's place on that same afternoon, only this time it was sunny. By the looks of it, that mansion of his was pretty fancy, and unlike anything I've seen before. It had the lushest gardens, and a really fancy fountain at the front of the mansion.

"We're here everyone. Step out and take in the lush scenery, and I'll have Gotch escort you in shortly." Dudley held the door open for us as we all got out of the limousine.

To look fancy for our tea time with Dudley, I wore my gold steampunk suit with the matching gold top hat that had goggles on the rim. Effie wore her pink lolita outfit with the matching pink bows and top hat and brought along her pink parasol. The Lee Brothers had on their traditional formal Chinese outfits, and matching little hats, like the ones they probably wore on every Chinese New Year. I was at a loss for words as I gazed at the whole exterior of Dudley's mansion, everything about it was so breathtaking... and something that I've always dreamed of owning once I strike it big.

"It sure is a beautiful place, isn't it Illia?" Effie asked as she gazed at the sights.

"It sure is... I've always dreamed of living in a place like this." I said with an awestruck tone in my voice.

"Nah, I've seen better." Yun said, swaying his braid.

"Just what makes you so sure, huh?" I asked him out of curiosity.

"Ummm... well there are some pretty big palaces around Hong Kong, that I know of anyway..." he replied to me.

"Now that's another place I might also think about living in someday... that's if I'll ever strike it big." I said, while twirling my gold pocket watch.

"Ha, I'm sure you will. I can count on that."

I was shocked at how much confidence Yun had in me, even after that incident where I nearly electrocuted him to death... Suddenly, the front door began to open and the same butler guy walked out.

"I shall escort you to the garden now." he said, and we all followed suit.

The whole interior of the place was just as breathtaking as it was outside, and everything was pretty much spotless. We had finally got to the garden, where Dudley was sitting on a fancy patio chair at a table, where the tea set was.

"I take it that you enjoyed all the sights here?"

"We sure did." we said in unison to Dudley.

"Good. Please take your seats, we have a lot of things to discuss, relating to this tournament... and you, Illia was it? I've got something to discuss with you in private later."

So we all sat down, and as usual, I looked down and began to nervously twirl my pocket watch.

"So I hear you were after Gill. What business do you have with him anyway?" Yun asked kind of rudely.

"You see young chap, Gill has my father's prized antique Jaguar... the one we were forced to sell when we became poor. But sadly, I cannot be able to confront him now that I am defeated..." he said in a rather sad tone. I looked up finally, and faced Dudley.

"You mean Gill took away someone precious to you... like he did to me?" I asked him.

"He did, and I plan to somehow get it back..."

"Just like I plan to get my brother back as well..." I became lost in thought, as I was holding back my sadness at the best of my ability.

"Gill has my little sister too." Effie chimed in, "He kidnapped her out of plain sight, the way he did to me and Illia." Dudley seemed suprised at what she said.

"That bastard! How could he do that to you both?" he said in rage.

"I know, I know... but I will get back at him, once I finally see him face to face." I said solemnly, looking back down.

"Don't forget, he's also planning to take over Hong Kong as well." Yang said, "Which is something my brother and I aren't about to let him do."

"That's terrible indeed." Dudley seemed upset, but managed to stay calm somehow. He turned to me, as I was still struggling to keep it together.

"You don't look too well." he said concerned.

"It's nothing... I'm fine." I said, despite the fact that I was feeling kind of sad.

"Now then, Illia, shall we have our moment of discussion now, while we've got the chance?"

"I guess we can... but can Effie come too?"

"Oh yes, may I?" she asked, as she knew she was my only means of further support.

"You may come too miss, right this way."

He lead us to the middle of his rose garden, where there was a statue of what looks like his father. It seemed almost like he had a small hidden memorial there.

"I've brought you both here, since I believe this is an appropriate spot for our private chat." Dudley began fastening his bow tie, "Now then, it seems you've got a serious matter that had something to do Gill, yes?"

"That's right..." I said, still looking down. Effie took my hand, giving me a small bit of comfort.

"Care to tell me all about it?"

At first, I started to become anxious, since I didn't think someone as high class as Dudley would want to know... but then I snapped out it.

"Okay, I'll tell you..." I gave out a sigh, and then looked up to face him. "It all started when I was a normal boy... I left my village to find a better life for myself, but then as soon as I got to the city, Gill and his damn Illuminati creeps showed up..." I could feel the emotional tension building up inside of me, as I was beginning to shudder.

"You had an encounter with Gill's goons?!" Dudley seemed shocked by my revelation. "What kind of madness did they put you into?"

"The madness of being put into a locomotive prison of despair, that's what!" I spat back in rage.

"Prison of despair, eh?" he seemed intrigued.

"That's what Illia calls the train car lab that we were held in." Effie whispered in his ear.

"I see..." he turned to me, as I had calmed down for just a bit. "Tell me more about this 'prison of despair'. I'd like to personally hear about it from your point of view, so I could use it against Gill."

"I don't know... if I can..." the memories began coming back painfully, "It's just too horrible to even put into words..."

"Just try telling him the best you can, and if you break down, I'll help you out." Effie assured me, in her usual loving tone.

"Okay, I'll try... but only for the sake of the both of us." I then gathered what little emotional strength I had, and prepared to tell Dudley my view of the horrible lab.

"Well, I can tell you that it was a pretty awful experience. The place was always dark and cold... just like the first time Gill put me in there... Luckily they gave me about a week to adjust to it before they... did this to me..." I took off my hat and suit, revealing my true appearance to Dudley.

"Dear God! He did this... to you?!"

"Yes... and all because he promised me a better life and made me join his damn organization..." I said bitterly, "It would've been even more awful if I hadn't met Effie... or if I didn't make that wish..." I turned away, as I was getting close to tears. Effie and Dudley suddenly became very worried over me.

"I'm concedingly sorry Illia..." Dudley said in an apologetic tone. "What Gill did to you was downright dirty... not to mention ungentleman like."

"Well sadly... I'm not the only one who was expriemented on..." I had remembered the vision I was shown of my brother. "My little brother... he was turned into the same being I was..." My emotional strength was finally broken, giving me the urge to run away... to someplace nobody could ever find me, like I used to do.

"I... I better go now..." I struggled for my clothes, and made a beeline towards the nearest isolated place.

"Illia, wait!" I heard Effie scream from far away, but I was out of range. I felt so ashamed... so upset at myself for suddenly breaking down and running off, and I had just promised myself that I wouldn't cry anymore... I had just reached my place of solitude, when I slipped and fell into a dense meadow... and I had fallen fast asleep in bed of flowers, and I was nowhere to be seen.